Prevent Protect Restore

Prevention...importance of regular exams

Is anxiety stopping you? Talk to us.

Why should you see us for a cleaning/exam every six months? We’ll give you six reasons!

1). Even with good home care, a professional cleaning is the only way to remove buildup that forms below the gumline, which

can cause gingivitis.

2). Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Left untreated, pockets of bacteria can invade the bone around the

tooth. We monitor your periodontal status at regular intervals.

3). Dental problems that are left unchecked can escalate quickly, so the sooner we catch a problem, the better. Along with a

visual exam, our digital x-rays help us identify any problems such as decay between teeth.

4). There’s evidence of a connection between a person’s oral and overall health.

5).We can discuss any findings from your exam and ways to maintain good home care until the next time we see you.

6). You’ll leave with a cleaner, brighter smile than you came in with!

A significant amount of Americans do not visit the dentist due to fear or anxiety. For many, just the thought of going to the dentist can bring on feelings of uneasiness. They will put off appointments - sometimes living with discomfort in the process. Dental anxiety is different for everyone; therefore, we encourage you to talk to us so we can fully understand your individual situation and help you feel comfortable.

Kallen K. Hull, DMD, PC (781) 942-2020 Summer/Fall 2014

Reception and

Waiting Areas

Prevention…early introduction

Protection…athletic mouthguards and nightguards

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Until they are fully grown, baby teeth require the same care as our permanent teeth. Early decay and premature loss can affect the development of the permanent teeth. Establishing an early routine of regular check-ups, brushing and flossing will protect the baby teeth as they grow and the permanent ones as they form. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends a wellness check at age 1, or approximately six months after the first teeth erupt. But why so young? These early visits are a good way to introduce and familiarize the child to us and our office, but also give us the opportunity to spot problems as teeth are erupting. We will discuss general care, which is especially important if your child is still bottle feeding, uses a pacifier or is a thumb sucker. Above it all, we keep the visit light and fun so your child will look forward to seeing us again!

“The ADA (American Dental Association) recommends a wellness check at age 1, or

approximately six months after the first teeth erupt.”

Two small devices…with big benefits!

Athletic Mouthguards

Before you tell us you can’t breathe with your mouthguard in, it isn’t comfortable or they aren’t mandatory in your sport, consider this: *Mouth injuries just don’t happen in contact sports, they can happen in any sport. *The cost of treating injuries related to broken and/or avulsed (knocked out) teeth can cost several thousand dollars, depending on the nature and severity of the injury.

*Mouthguards act as shock absorbers between the upper and lower jaws, preventing them from slamming together during impact and therefore reducing or preventing concussions.

If you aren’t wearing your mouthguard due to lack of comfort or fit, talk to us! We can fabricate a customized guard made from an impression of your teeth right in our office.

Nightguards

Do you wake up with a headache, earache, sore jaw or sore facial muscles? If so, you may be clenching and grinding.

Besides causing discomfort, clenching and grinding can cause damage. When exposed to constant pressure, teeth may develop cracks, fractures and increased sensitivity as the enamel wears away.

Wearing a nightguard can help. Custom-made and form-fitted to your teeth, a nightguard prevents your teeth from making contact, which can help alleviate discomfort and may prevent future damage as well.

During the design phase, we put a lot of thought into how our operatories would look, function and feel to our patients...the result? Operatories that are open and spacious but also provide just the right amount of privacy.

Restoration…advances in technology

Keep your smile bright and white…for life!

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Advances in dental technology offer better solutions for dental problems than ever before. Procedures are more

comfortable and less invasive and materials are more durable, efficient and natural looking. Some examples:

Digital X-Rays: besides the benefit of using less radiation, digital x-rays project an enlarged image onto a computer

screen, which can be manipulated and enhanced to provide excellent diagnostic quality.

Intraoral cameras: these small, lightweight cameras provide us with clear images from inside your mouth.

Composite resin fillings: offer an advantage to older materials such as silver because they are more durable and

replicate both tooth color and function.

All- ceramic crowns: ceramic crowns are natural looking and are generally indistinguishable from natural teeth. They are

every bit as strong as PFM (porcelain fused to metal) crowns…no more dark metal line at the gumline!

Dental Implants: when considering replacement of a missing tooth, dental implants are an excellent alternative to a

bridge. The implant integrates with your jaw and functions just as the root of a tooth does.

Did you know that your smile is one of the first things people notice about you?

If you have ever considered whitening your teeth, ask us about our “Whitening for Life” program, which is designed to

keep your smile looking bright and beautiful…for life!

Uncompromising safety…a word about infection control

Sterilization area

Infection control and patient safety is our priority. We strictly maintain sterilization and cross contamination

protocols using standards recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA), the Occupational Safety and

Health Administration (OSHA), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Some very important additional steps we take:

*We regularly attend continuing education courses to stay up to date with the latest protocols and conduct in-office

meetings to review these protocols.

*We maintain our equipment regularly and conduct spore testing on a weekly basis.

*We build extra time into each appointment to allow for proper cleanup, processing, disinfection and setup. Not only does this allow us ample opportunity to clean up, it also helps us stay on time for our appointments!

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Dr. Kallen K. Hull

Kallen K. Hull, DMD PC

Kallen K. Hull, DMD PC

274 Main Street Suite 205 Reading, MA 01867 (781) 942-2020

(Monday 8:30 – 4:30, Tuesday 12-8, Wednesday and Thursday 7 – 2 and some Saturdays) IF YOU HAVE A DENTAL EMERGENCY OUTSIDE THESE HOURS, PLEASE CALL 781-640-2445

Connect with us!

Visit us on the web: www.drkhull.com

E-mail us:

info@drkhull.com